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The 13-year-old phenom did a show-stopping, stripped-down version of "As Long as You Love Me," part of the night's all-acoustic first round as the top six were tasked with two songs apiece for the first time.

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"I love it when I hear unplugged versions of songs that are better than the actual song," Demi Lovato praised Carly Rose. "You sang it better than Justin did."

Demi was also alone out on the ledge defending CeCe Frey, whom Simon advised to pack a suitcase last week. We agree with Demi, that the 20-year-old's acoustic performance of Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory" was her best vocal yet.

Even L.A. Reid grudgingly admitted he was becoming a fan, but Simon flat-out told CeCe, "I don't think you are worth a $5 million recording contract."

However, L.A. still refused to hear any harmonies coming from Fifth Harmony, which, as Demi pointed out after they sang Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain," is made up of talented singers who maybe shouldn't be performing as a group.

When Simon insisted that the ladies of Fifth Harmony was the "nicest, most humble" group he's worked with, L.A. reminded him, "Simon, this isn't a competition of niceness."

No, it certainly is not.

Diamond White, on the chopping block last week, chose to pluck James Brown's "This Is a Man's World" out of her own personal X Factor archive, a choice that dismayed Simon, even though he agreed with the rest of the judges that her vocal was strong.

Demi managed to sit through five songs without getting bored, but, alas, Tate Stevens' good but uninspiring version of Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" was a snoozer for her. Simon, in a diss at L.A., warned the country crooner that he needed to be in charge of picking his own material.

Well, maybe another time, because the songs in round two were all chosen by folks who voted on what the contestants should sing in the online Pepsi Challenge.

First up, CeCe did a serviceable Katy Perry on "Part of Me," but her Gaga was better. And we don't know whose idea it was to have her not sing some bars, giving the impression that she was out of breath. We do know, however, that the fans voted for her to wear color and spikes and to bring back the leopard spots, hence her everything-but-the-kitchen-sink get-up.

"Here's some advice: Don't listen to a single word this one has said," Simon told the teen, motioning toward Demi. When Simon questioned the "odd lyric," Demi reminded him that Beyonc sang those very words, adding, "You interrupt me every time I speak, so don't think I'm not going to interrupt you!"

So back into the lions' den went Fifth Harmony, singing, of all things, Demi's "Give Your Heart a Break."

"I think this song should have been your song," purred the lioness, and Simon praised America for picking a great song. (Well, what do you know?!)

Simon and L.A. weren't crazy about Diamond doing Rihanna's "Diamonds in the Sky" (couldn't resist, could you, America?), but Demi said the 13-year-old did it justice. But was that a dig at CeCe when Simon cracked that Diamond was "in a very competitive top six, or maybe top five, actually"?

Tate closed the show with Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes," a match made in country heaven, and was warmly welcomed back into the competition by Simon.

"I admit I got a little sleepy during that performance, but I'm also really tired, so it's probably me," apologized Demi, who also loved it.

But that explains a lot.

Who got your vote tonight? And who do you think is in danger of going home tomorrow? Sound off in the comments!